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Corbyn takes first poll lead over May as voters say trade is the priority

Sam Coates, Deputy Political Editor

June 23 2017, 12:01am, The Times

When the prime minister called the election in mid-April, 54 per cent wanted her to remain in office, with 15 per cent favouring Mr CorbynKIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/PA

Jeremy Corbyn has overtaken Theresa May for the first time as the voters’ choice for who would make the best prime minister.

In a YouGov poll for The Times, 35 per cent said that they would prefer Mr Corbyn to be in No 10, while 34 per cent favoured Mrs May.

The pair were neck and neck in the first poll taken after this month’s election but the Labour leader has not been in the lead before.

This represents a remarkable fall from grace for Mrs May. When she called the election in mid-April, 54 per cent wanted Mrs May, with 15 per cent favouring Mr Corbyn. Mr Corbyn is ahead in all age categories under 50.